21 week anomaly scan

[Mizzy19]

So today I had my 20/21 anomaly scan with a doppler scan.
All looking good, all organs present, seen and growth is at 70th percentile. Doppler scan showing that blood flow to baby is good.
Then got told that baby possibly has 4 blood vessels instead of three when checking the fetal heart whilst doing a 3vv and 3vt check. So second senior sonographer was called in who said the same and said it's atypical not abnormal.
So then I had appointment with consultant who said it's atypical again, said she sees it once a year and decided it's best to refer to fetal cardiologist for ecg and opinion.
No heart disease or diabetes in the family and non smoker too. My fetal screening came back as low risk too.
So this kind of shook me and I don't know what to think. There's not much literature online either.
Has anybody come across this and what was the outcome. Some reassurance would be greatly appreciated.

Have you been referred elsewhere?
Had a similar experience albeit they thought only 2 vessels as oppose to the normal 3 (2 people looked)
referred to London next day appt…2 staff checked and said there were 3

20 weeks later cue birth of a perfectly healthy baba

Fingers crossed for you 🤞

@00kitty thanks for the reassurance. I feel better knowing that and happy all came back normal for you.
😊
I've been referred to Birmingham Woman's hospital, so awaiting a date and time from them. 🙏🤞.
Let's see what they say.

Do you have a date for another scan as yet? 🤞🙏

@00kitty , given a date for next Tuesday morning, so 🙏🤞 for me. I'll be 22 weeks in then.
Hate the wait and the emotional stress. I'll let you know what they say. 😊

Hopefully that means it’s not too urgent, horrid time worrying until then though 😑

@00kitty ,So today I went for scan and two fetal cardiologist said there are 4 vessels instead of the 3.
They are now offering amniocentesis, with 1:200 miscarriage risk and possibility of early labour.
Really unsure what to do.
Even though my screening showed low risk. They don't know why the heart is like that seeing there is no family history. So pointing at genetics.
At the mo, baby is growing well, active and they have no concerns, but worried that growth slows down of heart or so, could cause problems. They've booked me in 4 weeks time to check. Also I'm likely to change hospitals for birth to there, so there's fetal cardiologist present just in case.
In meantime I've to decide about amnio... Any advice would be great as am worrying out of my mind.

Oh gosh I am so sorry, I presume they mean the extra vessel means an increased risk of downs, edwards or patels syndrome then?

Have they explained what they could do at birth to rectify?

I would only have the amniocentesis if you would 100% have an abortion if baby had one of those syndromes. I’ve just found this helpline for downs 0333 1212 300 I would definitely speak to support services before making a decision. I know a lady with a downs baby and he is absolutely lovely and they go on to lead meaningful lives.

im really hoping they have given you details of support so you can make an informed decision as I have no idea what the practicalities of an extra vessel mean in reality 🌷

@00kitty

Basically having bilateral superior vena cava with left svc to cavernous sinus isn't a big concern for them.
Apparently this is rare, atypical but they say because it's not usually picked up, it is fairly common in population and as it has no symptoms, people go on to lead normal active lives.

It's the fact they are suspicious of an aortic arch hypoplasia, which is narrowing of the arch.
They say this is usually genetic related.
Amnio is what's advised. I'd rather know than not, so can act upon the results. So have decided to go for it.
Risk of miscarriage is less than if I were early on in the pregnancy and possibly early labour, but all minimal risk. So they say.

Also I caught covid at week 5-6 of pregnancy and thinking this had affected the development of the baby's heart possibly, as this is the important phase of growth for an embryo and to catch a virus isn't good. It's that or genetics. Amnio will rule one out.

Just trying to stay positive and hopeful.

The amnio risk includes those done in the 80's without an ultrasound at the same time (bit of blind faith) so the risk nowadays is actually a lot lower but the stats haven't been updated. If they can see heart vessels then doctor can see where they are putting needle!

I'd want my doctors to have all the information they need in case anything extra is required on birth or pregnancy. So it's not necessarily about abortion as pp commented.

I don't have much advice on what must be a really difficult time and decision ❤️ but in case it helps, here's a screenshot of my copy of Emily Oster's "Expecting Better" (2016 ed.) which breaks down where the much-quoted 1 in 200 risk of miscarriage from amniocentesis comes from, and why it is likely to be much less risky than that. Information is power, but whatever choice you make, be kind to yourself - there's no 100% right answer and you're a mum doing your best. Wishing you and your baby all good news from here in xxx

I have no advice to give you OP but sending you all the support and good wishes in the world. I also wanted to weigh in that I was offered an amniocentesis (for other reasons) last week and the risk figure from my consultant was about 1 in 1000 (and that was at 15 weeks, much earlier than you).

Fingers and toes crossed for the best possible outcome for baby.

Thanks all for the input.

I've decided to go for the amnio and they've booked me in for tomorrow as no other availability for over a week after that as consultant on some medical conference.
So hoping for the best.
I'd rather know than not than let it shocks me later.
🤞

Best of luck op x

@Arthursmom ,thank you. It's at midday. A bit nervous but I'm sure it'll be fine.

Really hoping today went well for you and you don’t have to wait long for results 🌷

@00kitty , thank you, all home now and resting. Procedure very straightforward, don't really feel much. Done within a few seconds. Then a spray on plaster put over the top. Sample was clear so results are quicker as opposed to sometimes it having blood, in which case can take longer for results to come through. They got about 15ml of fluid.
Blood test also done after. Baby checked afterwards to see all ok, which it was.
Just a waiting game now. 🤞
Personally a blood test is more worse than having this done in terms of pain.

Well done getting through it ❤️

Hi Mizzy how are things going? Hoping results came back ok xx

@00kitty ,hi there.
The three trisomies were not detected, no evidence so was relieved.
I'm still awaiting the microarray results of the rarer condition which takes two weeks from day of test l, but am pretty certain in my head, it'll be all ok. As there's is nothing in the family history three generations back... But I rung up and they said end of the week hopefully. So fingers crossed xx

Great news! Good luck and congrats x

That is reassuring, fingers crossed for final result. Have docs explained what if anything they need to do to baby once she arrives…will she need a heart op?

Finally got the microarray results come through today . No evidence of any issues at all with the chromosomes . So am relieved. 🙏.

Now just got the scan next Tuesday with paediatric cardiologists again. Hopefully this little one has performed a miracle and proved their suspicions to be wrong. I'm hoping. 🤞
Having 4 vessels on heart than the normal 3 vessels requires no intervention. Sometimes the 4th vessel doesn't get picked up and they say there may be alot in the population with the extra vessel however there are no symptoms to it and hence no treatment is what they said.
It's only if there's an aortic arch hypoplasia, which they suspected, then op post natally is what they suggested previously. But depends all on the baby's growth and heart. Last time, they had no concerns at that point as heart was strong etc. So it's a game of wait and watch now.
Praying to God this boy is a little miracle. I believe in my heart he is. 🙏🤞.

Fantastic news ❤️ just an extra unique bubba x

Hi ladies, I had my anomaly scan yesterday. They did not tell me much. The gave me the record with the following measurements:
FL 28.2mm
HC 161.9 mm
AC 139.7 mm
I am 19 weeks.
I am a bit concerned about the FL because on the 16 weeks private scan it was 21.4 mm. Any wise thoughts would be highly appreciated

@Vg92 what are you concerned about? FL means femur length. Largest bone in the body I think 🤔 it should keep getting longer